BATS -- Taxpayers Guide to Donated Goods

Business Accounting & Tax Solutions

Taxpayers Guide
to Donated Goods

Deciding how much to deduct when donating used items to charities is often a problem. The IRS guideline is fair market value (the price an informed and willing seller would get if the item was sold to an informed and willing buyer). Some charities give an appraisal figure, but others do not. In either case, the IRS requires proof of the donation and documentation supporting its appraised value.

Most people underestimate the value of items donated to qualified charities. When donating clothes and other items, remember to:

Make an itemized list for your records stating how many shirts, sweaters, etc. were donated
Specify the condition of items donated (fair, good, new, …)
Get a receipt from the organization

The receipt will list quantity donated (bags of clothes, boxes of toys or household goods) and will specify larger items like furniture or a TV. The receipt will not have a value placed on it. This is why you need an itemized list. These donations do add up. Take the time, use this list, and maximize your allowable charitable deduction.

The following guidelines, prepared with the help of the Salvation Army and Goodwill, suggest some price ranges for items in good condition. Please make your browser window as wide as possible to make sure all the numbers line up well.

Ladies' Clothing		Furniture
Dresses Suits Shoes Coats Skirts Blouses Handbags Hats Sweaters Slacks Bathrobes	$4-25 $10-85 $2-12 $10-80 $3-15 $2-8 $1-4 $2-8 $3-8 $4-20 $4-12	Kitchen table & 2 chairs End tables Coffee table Washing machine Vacuum cleaner Dryer Refrigerator Gas Stove Black & White TV Color TV Dresser with mirror Chest Wardrobe Complete double bed Complete single bed Double mattress Single mattress Folding bed Studio couch Sofa China cabinet Wood Trunk Floor lamp Table lamp Upholstered chair Sleeper sofa Desk Bicycle Radio Crib with mattress Playpen	$65-120 $16-65 $25-90 $50 $20-60 $80 $60-150 $60-150 $50-70 $150-200 $45-150 $35-100 $30-80 $50-200 $35-80 $25 $15 $20-60 $50-200 $50-350 $60-200 $15-30 $12-30 $8-20 $25-80 $90-300 $45-150 $20-60 $10-35 $25-85 $10-30
Men's Clothing
Suits Jackets Shoes Slacks Shirts Overcoats Sweaters Belts	$20-85 $10-45 $2-12 $4-20 $2-5 $20-60 $4-8 $3
Children's Clothing
Coats Snowsuits Shoes Dresses Pants Shirts Boots Sweaters	$5-15 $5-10 $1-6 $3-6 $2-5 $1-2 $2-4 $3-5
Dry Goods		Sporting Goods
Blankets Bedspreads Pillows Sheets Curtains Drapes Throw rugs	$5-12 $5-20 $4 $2-5 $2-6 $10-20 $3-5	Fishing rod Ice skates Roller skates Tennis racket	$3-15 $3-15 $3-15 $3-15

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